School Pencil Attack Leaves Boy with 3% of His Eyesight.

School Pencil Attack Leaves Boy with 3% of His Eyesight

According to TSN.ua: A fifth-grade student in the Kirovohrad region has suffered a devastating eye injury, losing 97% of his vision after a classmate struck him with a pencil. The incident occurred on December 17 in the village of Hruzke, while the teacher was absent from the classroom. The victim's mother, Kateryna Skliamychenko, accuses the school of negligence, alleging it failed to provide adequate supervision of the students during the lesson.

According to the mother, the teacher informed her of the incident but did not call an ambulance because Nikita did not initially show signs of severe distress.

"I asked her why they didn't call an ambulance. She explained that there was no blood, the child was sitting calmly, so they didn't call," stated Kateryna Skliamychenko.

Nikita's family has spent over 50,000 hryvnias on treatment and is facing a difficult time, as the boy's father was mobilized for military service in December 2023. The school's principal, Olena Tenychenko, confirmed the teacher was not at her post, which she considers a primary breach of duty. An internal investigation is underway, and the head of the education department, Yana Tsyba, noted the situation will be examined in detail.

Impact on the Educational Environment

Lawyer Tetiana Korchemna also commented on the broader impact such incidents have on the school environment. Kateryna Skliamychenko believes the school is at fault, emphasizing negligence further as her child was sent home without an escort. The family now hopes for Nikita's swift recovery and for justice to be served.

This tragic case highlights critical issues of student safety and teacher accountability in schools. The lack of supervision at the moment of the injury raises serious concerns about classroom management protocols. The official investigation aims to clarify the circumstances and prevent similar tragedies in the future. Incidents like this underscore the profound consequences that can arise from a moment of unsupervised conflict in a classroom.